Five Card Draw Rule Variations

While it is possible to play games with more or fewer than five cards in the deal, five card draw is overwhelmingly the most popular draw poker game in casinos.

Rules variations can modify not only how the game proceeds, but also the strategy with which it should be played. Common variations are:

Limit the draw to three cards. When everyone checks around the table, often the last player (who has "the deal") will make a minimum bet to see if he or she can steal the small pot. Another player may want to test whether this is a bluff by calling the bet and then drawing four cards to a high card, or asking for five new cards. If the draw produces something playable, it may be possible to catch the bettor in a bluff. By forbidding draws of more than three cards, this tactic is seriously inhibited. The rule is usually imposed to save cards out of the deck when there are many players.

Cut the deck to 32 cards. When there are four or fewer players, the deck can be cut by removing the 2 through 6. (The low straight or "wheel" would be A-7-8-9-10). This plays havoc with players who are accustomed to the odds of a 52-card deck, but the play can be fairly exciting, as the chances of completing a high-scoring hand are much better. It would not be unusual to have a full house stack up against a straight in head-on play, for example.

Wild Cards. In home play, certain cards - usually deuces -- are declared to be "wild." This can mean different things: For one thing, deuces can masquerade as any other card in any context whatever, Alternatively, it can mean that deuces can be used for the limited purpose of filling a straight or a flush. It all depends on what the declared rule is. Sometimes other cards are denominated as wild, like jokers or the two "one-eyed" Jacks (Spades and Hearts). Casino play usually eschews the use of wild cards. If a veteran offers to play a wild card game with a relative newcomer, it is not a good sign for the newcomer. Wild cards actually make poker more complicated, giving the seasoned player an even larger advantage over a weaker opponent.

Add another draw. In home games sometimes a second draw of up to 2 or 3 cards is permitted, providing another betting round and a chance to improve the hand further. In casino play this does not occur. In casinos, however lowball draw games (meaning the "worst" hand is the winner) are offered, and frequently they are played under "triple draw" rules.